New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-08-14
ELECTORAL REFORM.
Mr.. A. T. RICE'S PLAN FOR THE PREVEN-
TION OF BRIBERY.
A PROPOSED LAW TO PROMOTE OPEN NOMINATIONS
TO OFFICE AND PEoyIDE GREATER sE-
CURLY FOR The SECRECY
or THE BALLOT.

A reDortor OF THT TRIBUNE happened 10 meet M
Allen rborndike Rice, Editor OF The North
A,r,ic,n Review" for the 6rst time since Captain
Mike" Cregan % 4 recent meeting oil his ooys
had threatened TO appeal from the vote which DIS
placed him from lis position as captain oil the A'l'n
Assembly District because OF MS disIoyalty 10 toe
ATTY when Mr. Rice contested that district at the
sst election as tie regular Republican candidate he
reror,er referred TO Mr. kices successful contest
With the Captain for reform in the administration
o. the ,artv and asked him what mpeed him 10 take
such determined stand against the management-of
his canvass in the XVIII District
Mr. Rlce-Well. mainly desire TO put stop to
such uraciicos and to exhibit both to my party ana
tie public an cxamrlc Of the methods by which under
the present imperfect electoral system tue majority
often jngged ont o. its Ultimate representation, ana
also 10 show that an incorporating fight within the
party can effect some reform in making 1t unsafs 10
h.t-yv nrtIie trusts we have abolished negro
slayerv-even "1he Evening Post" has discovered
that iact-and now the time has come to abolish
political knavery.
Reporter.-Wbat do You mean by that term
Mr. Rice Il me! by kna7ery' those methods
which result in thwarting the will OF toe majority al
the polls peryertng the spirit and intent of the Con
s;itutOn, enormously augmeDting the exD-Ises Oh
government and belittlIng the GOOD name oi our
American institutions. And yet, although no one
denies this evil in the discussion OF 1t, the same nope
e spirit prevails quite generally almost universally
that once characterized the "deplorsrs OF slavery
We ouchtnot to depore" knavery but to abolish it
root trunk, branches and leaves, without pity ana
without compromise. Knavcry, as represented oy
Halls" aud the established methods OF conducting
elections appears be strong and so inscparably
iniertwined with city machinery that the most
estnabe citizens seem TO havo despaircd OF exposing
it ehecu. civ, tar less OF killing it, have always
held that such ;imiity was FOLLY. and, naturally
was not prepared to submit to the knavcry by when
my party was deraudsd of scat in Congress by one
OF its own elected officers.
u,,,, iyaI tho cnrlial and
co eoeraton OF the County Committee and Ali hands
concerned--I mean all the reputaDls Republican man
ayers in your recent effort to punish tue Offenders In
yonr case
Mr. Rice-That is undoubtedly true no one can
be more alive to recognize the tact than am On all
sde, VIC received the strongest ard most encouraging
support. Nothing could give better roof OF the
wholesome reaction OF public opinion and OF ina exst
cnce of daeprooted belief that the tims has come TO
do something elective TO put end to such iuiquties
len years ago this would not have happeLed perhaps
And il is tine Ii has simply cJmc to this alternative
in our politics /, the majority or the minority TO
ees. our reprcsentstivesl - From many causes, am
sorry TO say believe that, as rlle, in ou large
cities, orr representatives arc often elected by
minority.
Reporter-And ia thers no ef.cient remedy for tbs
rcrverson OF Republican methods ! Must a fight
such "a YOU made have be made by every candidate
when he has been cheated In that case the outlook
is not encuc gng. For very few men have either the
spirit or the inclination to light the knaycs IN their
own party az You have done and sometimes when
they have both the will and wish they nave not the
means or support. Have you no radcai-real per-
manent. legal remedy to propose'
Mr. dice Most certainly there il remedy for this
evil "a Tor every other evil wrought by Inadequate
laws. Whoever studies the subject, right hero IN
Ney-York discovers "a soon as he has ,arned the
InsthoIs of some of our -estyled "practical" poll
ucians, that the evils complained of chiefly result
from INADEQUATE Liquidation.
Rsporter.-p Please explain.
Mr. Rice-rhe power OF organized kanverv In our
city politics chiefly from two sources first, our
present methods OF uominaton and second our
present msthod of baloting and the attendant
personal expenses of n canvass.
Reporter What obie ttion is there TO system OF
nom, mating candidates
Mr. DETERMINATIONS by primaries admirably
adauted for rural communities where the town meet
inc .ill exists where everybody knows ht eghbor
but as applied 10 a great city it too often proves
scheme 10 grant a monopoly OF nominations TO the
interruptions, lawlcss and criminal classes. IL ia
therefore these facts are well kDswn-uscless to
appeal to reacetul citizens TO attend the primaries
they refuse 10 CO. "a rule alter one visit 10 these
pandenoniums OF the roughs, where neither para-
nentsry law nor any pretence OF order Is observed.
Now all reform of city politics must begin here
for no matter how much politics might be purified
elsewhere even IT bribery and false returns were
rendered impossible Just so long the power of nom
unworthy c1ndHacs - ielt IN nduus OF
controller of the prinares just 80 long no progress
or no eaectiye pro yress-will have been made.
R.p)rter.-Exuuse me. Mr.. Kice tlese are import
ant and in tere.trg facts but still they gcnera
have you any practical substitute To propose tor
our rresent system of nominations and OF baioting
aud for obviatns the need Of large expenditures by
candidates
Mr. Riee.-Certaiuly but which question do you
want me 10 answer first
Reporter.-wen how. fer example, would you
az old personal disbursements by the candidates.
Mr. Rce.-Simply by making il public charge. IL
would then be done both cheaper and better The
expenses Tor example. of Congressional election IN
metropolitan district now so great that 1t Is I'M
possible tor any person but man OF means to bc can
ddate unlt supplied with funds from outside
Honest poor nov in our cities virtual, made
ineligible representatives OF the people. Unneees-
EARLY large sums expended in this city at every
ele stion. II Il not the working people who " al.
vance" or who advance these sums although,
when corrupt thus elected it is they in the
end who foot all tao bills in the form OF increased
taxation, direct or indirect.
Re1orter.-Well, Mr. Rice, your statements are
undoubtedly correct; but still, the practical poll
tician" rhch your CAPTAIN Organs won adm. YOU
10 be, will meet ali you say by Twesd's insOlent
question when he was confronted by proofs OF his
guilt What you going TO do about it," Have
you any legislative remedy clearly on timed in your
mind
Mr. Riee.-Yes have; but am not prepared to
Law the law down indexibiy II you will call at my
house 1 will show you what the French term
project oil law" the rough draft OF bill which
hopo 10 presented in some torn or other in the
Legislature. Such bill will IN my judgment provide
complete remedy for existing evils and deli sieuoies
of legislation all electoral matters shall give you
n copy OF IL If you care to make 1t serve as a
basis of discussion; fer no one desires to
such measure passed into law until it
is thoroughly discussed and digested, that,
when enacted. it may b. riady enforced and
have the popular support. While have special
desire that this blil, precisely in the form in which
drafted, should become law, still do believe that
this or some kindred law would frse New-York from
the administration Of the corrupt element in CITY
politics.
The TRIBUNE rer crter subsequently called on Mr..
Rice at his residence in Washington Square and
obtained from him the following ORA II Of bill TO
amend existing laws relating to elections:
ACT PROMOTE OPES NOMINATIONS TO OPPicH aud
provide greater security for the of the ballot
of ate Nor I'M Cana